Everton’s Ademola Lookman spent last season on loan at RB Leipzig under Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Sky Sports are reporting that Southampton will soon announce the appointment of Ralph Hasenhuttl as their manager on a three-year contract.
And, while that is excellent news for the Saints, it could also be good news for Everton.
There is no shortage of tricky attacking forwards at Goodison Park this season – Sunday’s game with Liverpool saw a front four of Bernard, Gylfi Sigurdson, Theo Walcott, and Richarlison – but that fact does risk getting in the way of an exciting young player at the club.
Ademola Lookman has only appeared eight times in the Premier League, all as a substitute and for a grand total of 174 minutes.
While many expected him to be loaned out in the summer, Lookman has stayed but found opportunities limited as we head into the Christmas period. Everton did not want to lose the player entirely in the summer and kept him around, but also cannot find a place for him in the team.
The 21-year-old had spent the second half of last season on loan at RB Leipzig, where he scored five goals and picked up three assists in his 11 games there, and that is why Southampton’s likely appointment presents an opportunity.
Hasenhuttl was the coach at Leipzig last season, and the chance to link back up with a player he found such success with must be appealing, especially with Southampton’s struggles in front of goal being high on the list of his new problems.
For Everton it could be ideal – Lookman gets minutes in the Premier League under a coach they know full well can get the most out of him and develop the youngster into a fine player, eliminating the biggest risk that is usually taken with such a loan deal.
Lookman is not currently getting the time he needs, and it could well be a move that suits all parties, especially Everton.
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